Railroad track aligner



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RAILROAD TRACK ALIGNER Filed Jan. 3, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. fs an K yo United States Patent RAILROAD TRACK ALIGNER John K. Yohe, New Brighton, Pa., assignor to Woodings- Verona Tool Works, Verona, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 3, 1955, Serial No. 479,516

10 Claims. (Cl. 104-8) This invention relates to apparatus for straightening or aligning railroad tracks, and more particularly to aligning machines mounted on the opposite ends of a vehicle that can move along the track.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a railroad track aligner in which the full weight of the vehicle that carries the aligning machines is used to re sist the reaction of the track shifting operation, in which the weight of a section of the track can be added to that of the vehicle, in which the aligning machines can be made parallel to banked track while the vehicle remains plumb, and in which all moving parts can be operated from the vehicle. Other objects are to provide a track aligner which does not obstruct view of the rails by a person sighting along them, and which can be removed from the track at any point under its own power to permit trains to pass.

In accordance with this invention, track aligning machines are mounted on the opposite ends of a vehicle, such as a car or tractor, which can move along the track. Each machine has a. horizontal frame projecting lengthwise from the vehicle. Below the frame there is a cross member which carries bearing means adapted to be pressed down against the track ballast between a pair of ties. The cross member is supported from the frame above it, with the bearing means normally disposed above the ties. There is a horizontal fluid pressure cylinder that can be moved vertically by means mounted on the cross member. Piston rods project from the opposite ends of the cylinder and canry rail-engaging means on their outer ends. After fluid pressure has been introduced into the cylinder to move the rail-engaging means into engagement with the rails, the means that support the cross members at the opposite ends of the vehicle are operated to raise the frame and vehicles so that they will be supported by the cross members and bearing means. The piston rods in the horizontal cylinder then can be moved in either direction to shift the track sideways. Means can be provided for tilting the cross members in order to make them parallel to banked tracks.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the track aligner in operating position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a still further enlarged end view, showing. one of the aligning machines partly broken away in section.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a tractor 1 of well-known design is shown in outline between the rails 2 of a railroad track. The treads 3 of the tractor are close enough together to permit it to travel along the ties 4 between the rails. Unlike a car that must travel on the rails, the tractor between them does not obstruct the view of the rails by a person sighting along them,

2,736,268 Patented Feb. 28, 1956 ICC and it can bemoved off the track at any place under its own power. 4

Mounted on the tractor and securely fastened to it, is a framework 6 that extends lengthwise of the tractor. Projecting fromthe top of the opposite ends of the framework are horizontal frames 7 extending in front of and behind the tractor. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, plate 8 on top of each frame is slidable lengthwise of the vehicle in parallel guides 9 that are mounted on the frame. Mounted on the central part of the plate is a vertical cylinder 11 that has a long lower .end which extends down through an opening in the plate, and through a longitudinal slot 12 in the frame. The lower end of this cylinder is connected to the outer end of a horizontal piston rod 13 which projects from a horizontal cylinder 14 mounted in the end of the frame next to the tractor. This cylinder is used for adjusting the vertical cylinder 11 lengthwise of the tractor. A piston rod 16 extends down out of the vertical cylinder and has its lower end connected by a universal joint 17 to the center of the top of a cross member. This cross member is built up from steel plates and form a hollow housing 18 that has parallel front and rear walls and is open at its bottom.

The housing. carries bearing means, preferably in the form of four shoes arranged in front and rear. pairs. One pair of the shoes 19 is connected by universal joints 21 directly to the'housing. The other pair 22 is connected by universal joints 23 to the opposite ends of an arm 24, the central portion of which is supported by a rocker shaft 26 mounted in the bottom of the housing. This arrangement of shoes permits them to accomodate themselves to uneven surfaces. The bottom of each shoe preferably is covered by a thick pad 27 or rubber or the like. When the tractor is resting on the ties or traveling along them the housings 18 at its opposite ends normally are held above the track by fluid pressure in the lower ends of the vertical cylinders 11.

Disposed inside of each housing 18 is a cross beam 30 that straddlesa rectangular guide member 31 which projects down into it from the upper part of the housing. The cross beam and guide member are in sliding engagement with each other as shown in Fig. 4. The guide member is considerably shorter than the cross beam, but as shown in Fig. 5, its ends are slidably engaged by bearing blocks 32 mounted onv balls 33 projecting from end walls of the cross beam. Consequently, the guide member permits the cross beam to be moved only up and down in the housing. The cross beam is supported by the lower ends of piston rods 34 connected to its end .walls and extending up through the housing and into vertical cylinders 35 mounted on top of the housing. Fluid pressure admitted to the lower end of these cylinders will lift the cross beam in the housing.

A horizontal cylinder 37 is secured to the bottom of the cross beam and extends lengthwise of it. The cylinder is divided into two chambers by a central Wall 38 which is provided with fluid pressure openings in both chambers. In each chamber there is a piston 39 from which a piston rod 41 extends out through the end of the chamber. The outer end of each rod is connected to a ram 42 that is suspended from the bottom of the cross beam by horizontal guides 43 so that the ram can be moved lengthwise of the beam. Each ram is shaped to engage the side of a rail head and the edge of the rail flange, under which it projects a short distance. Pivotally mounted in the upper part of the ram is a hook 44 that can be swung out and down over the head of the rail. When thehook is in place the rail can be moved sideways in-either direction by the ram. "The hooks can be swung out of the way to permit unobstructed sighting along the rails to check their alignment.

hi aligning a a u is e by dri ing t e tra tor along the track until it arrives at a section that needs to be moved laterally into line with the track at both ends of that section. The tractor is stopped with one of the aligning machines directly above a tie. If the other machine is not above a tie, the machine is adjusted by the horizontal cylinder 14 until it is in that position. Then the two housings 18 are lowered so that their shoes rest on the ballast 46 between the ties. The cross beams 30 then are lowered in the housings to locate the rams 42 at the proper height between the rails. When that has been accomplished, the rams are moved outward by pistons 39 until they engage the rails. The impact of the rams with the rails is likely to cause the raised hooks 44 to swing out and down onto the rails. If not, the hooks can be moved by hand. Fluid pressure is admitted to the lower ends of vertical cylinders 11 to lift the frames 7 and framework 6 and thereby raise the tractor off the ties, as shown in Fig. 1. Fluid pressure then is admitted to the outer end of one of the chambers in ram cylinder 37 and to the inner end of the other chamber so that both rams will be moved in the same direction simultaneously in order to shift the rails and ties laterally as a unit. The weight of the suspended tractor presses the housing shoes 19 and 22 very tightly against the ballast, which projects up into the resilient pads on the shoes. With all of this weight and traction on the ballast, the housings 18 will remain firmly in place while the track is being shifted. The cross beams 30 can be lifted slightly by piston rods 34 to help free the ties from the ballast to facilitate moving the track and also for the purpose of adding the weight of the raised section of track to that of the tractor to further increase the bearing pressure of the apparatus on the ballast.

The operation of all of the cylinders is under the control of the tractor operator. As shown in Fig. l, the tractor is provided with an oil reservoir 48 and an oil pump 49 driven by the tractor engine for furnishing hydraulic fluid under pressure to the various cylinders. The numerous conduits and control valves in the hydraulic system are not illustrated because they would complicate the drawings unnecessarily without contributing to the understanding of the invention. After the track has been aligned, the tractor is lowered onto the ties, the rams are withdrawn from the rails, the housings are raised and the apparatus is ready to move to another location.

This aligning apparatus also is provided with means permitting it to be used with banked tracks. Thus, an arm 51 is rigidly connected to the lower portion of each piston rod 16, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the outer end of the arm is pivotally connected to the lower ends of a piston rod 52 that extends up intoa cylinder 53. The top of the cylinder is pivotally suspended from an inverted U-shape bracket 54 that has its lower ends secured to the top of the underlying housing 18 near one of the vertical cylinders 35.

When the tractor is driven onto a banked track the housings 18 will tend to swing into horizontal position, but they can be made parallel to the inclined track by delivering fluid under pressure to the correct end of hanging cylinders 53. These cylinders then will be moved either down or up the piston rods 52 to tilt the housings one way or the other. After the tilted housings have had their rams connected to the rails, the tractor can beraised off the ties and allowed to swing by gravity into plumb position. Following shifting of the track, the tractor is tilted back into its former position and lowered onto the ties. Then the rams are released fromthe rails and the housings are raised.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider torepresent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the

4 invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In a railroad track aligner, the combination with a vehicle adapted to move along the track, of machines mounted on the opposite ends of the vehicle for raising it above the track ties and for shifting them and the rails laterally as a unit, each machine comprising a horizontal frame projecting lengthwise from the vehicle, a cross member below the frame, bearing means carried by the cross member adapted to be pressed down against the track ballast between a pair of ties, means mounted on the frame normally supporting the cross member with said bearing means above the ties but adapted to elevate the frame after lowering said bearing means onto said ballast, a horizontal fluid pressure cylinder, means mounted on said cross member for moving the cylinder vertically relative to said member, piston rods projecting from opposite ends of the cylinder, rail-engaging means carried by the outer ends of said rods, and means for introducing fluid pressure into said cylinder to actuate the rods, whereby to move the track sideways.

2. In a track aligner as defined in claim 1, means for adjusting said cross member supporting means lengthwise of said vehicle.

3. In a track aligner as defined in claim 1, said cross member supporting means including a vertical fluid pressure cylinder mounted on said frame, and a piston rod projecting from the lower end of that cylinder and supporting the cross member.

4. In a track aligner as defined in claim 1, said cylinder-moving means including vertical fluid pressure cylinders mounted on opposite ends of said cross member, and piston rods projecting from those cylinders and supporting said horizontal cylinder.

5. In a track aligner as defined in claim 1, said cylinder extending crossways of said vehicle, and said bearing means including shoes extending below the cylinder and spaced lengthwise of it, the shoes being connected to said cross member through universal joints.

6. In a railroad track aligner, the combination with a vehicle adapted to move along the track, of machines mounted on the opposite ends of the vehicle for raising it above the track tics and for shifting them and the rails laterally as a unit, each machine comprising a horizontal frame projecting from the vehicle, a cross member be low the frame, bearing means carried by the cross member adapted to be pressed down against the track ballast between a pair of ties, means mounted on the frame normally supporting the cross member with said bearing means above the ties but adapted to elevate the frame after lowering said bearing means onto said ballast, a horizontal beam extending crossways of said vehicle, means mounted on said cross member for moving the beam vertically relative to said member, a fluid pressure cylinder suspended from the beam and extending lengthwise thereof, piston rods projecting from opposite ends of the cylinder, rail-engaging means carried by the outer ends of said rods, and means for introducing fluid pressure into said cylinder to actuate the rods, whereby to move the track sideways.

7. In a track aligner as defined in claim 6, said beammoving means including fluid pressure actuated devices.

8. In a track aligner as defined in claim 2, said railengaging means including rams that are slidably mounted on the bottom of said beam.

9. In a railroad track aligner, the combination with a vehicle adapted to move along the track, of machines mounted on the opposite ends of the vehicle for raising it above the track ties and for shifting them and the rails laterally as a unit, each machine comprising a horizontal frame projecting from the vehicle, a hollow housing below the frame extending crossways of said vehicle, bearing means carried by the bottom of the housing adapted to be pressed down against the track ballast between a pair of ties, means mounted on the frame normally supporting the housing with said bearing means above the ties but adapted to elevate the frame when said bearing means are lowered onto said ballast, a horizontal beam in the housing and movable only vertically therein, means mounted on the housing for moving the beam vertically therein, a hydraulic cylinder suspended from the bottom of the beam and extending lengthwise thereof, piston rods projecting from the opposite ends of the cylinder, rail-gripping means carried by the outer ends of said rods, and means for introducing fluid pressure into said cylinder to actuate the rods, whereby to move the track sideways.

10. In a railroad track aligner, the combination with a vehicle adapted to move along the track, of machines mounted on the opposite ends of the vehicle for raising it above the track ties and for shifting them and the rails laterally as a unit, each machine comprising a horizontal frame projecting lengthwise from the vehicle, a cross member below the frame, bearing means carried by the cross member adapted to be pressed down against the track ballast between a pair of ties, means mounted on the frame normally supporting the cross member with said bearing means above the ties but adapted to elevate the frame after lowering said bearing means onto said ballast, said supporting means being pivotally connected to the cross member above the center of gravity of the vehicle, means for tilting the cross member lengthwise to make it parallel to a banked track, a horizontal fluid pressure cylinder suspended from the cross member, means mounted on said cross member for moving the cylinder vertically relative to said member, piston rods projecting from opposite ends of the cylinder, rail-engaging means carried by the outer ends of said rods, and means for introducing fluid pressure into said cylinder to actuate the rods, whereby to move the track sideways.

No references cited. 

